stay the pace

stay the pace

To be able to do something competently or well when under stress or pressure. Often used in negative constructions. The work is going to be very intense, so we need to find a candidate who can stay the pace. I wouldn't ask Robert to do report if you need it urgently—he can't stay the pace. The home team struggled to stay the pace in the first quarter of the game, but they're finally starting to get some momentum.
See also: pace, stay
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • stand the pace
  • anytime soon
  • a month of Sundays
  • (one's) bag
  • bag
  • perceive
  • perceive (someone or something) as (something)
  • perceive as
  • have it both ways
References in periodicals archive
And the traditional grasses cant stay the pace, hence the cursed thatch.
Can Coventry - still 6-1 for a top-six finish - stay the pace? It's hard to say.
O'Sullivan struggled to stay the pace from the start as Drossin blazed into the lead with an opening mile in 4:45 followed by 4:47 on the testing uphill section.
And Harte, 22, believes Leeds are slowly fighting a losing battle to stay the pace with Sir Alex Ferguson's star-studded squad.
They will have been boosted by a 1-0 victory at Inverness in their last outing, but they could find it difficult to stay the pace if Rangers take an early grip on the game.
Marcus Horan is on standby should Clohessy not stay the pace.
"We'll help you up their fitness levels, but - more importantly - we need people who are motivated and will stay the pace through the training programme."
Sir Alex has calmed down since the 1-0 loss at Chelsea in the match preceding the international break, but the reality is that Manchester United have dropped to third place in the table and are showing disturbing signs of struggling to stay the pace.
We've got the character and belief in our ability to stay the pace."
IN one of the strongest fields of the European Tour season, the Dunhill Links Championship hopefuls need to be on top form if they are to climb to the higher reaches of the leaderboard, and two Scandinavian raiders who may struggle to stay the pace are Robert Karlsson and Thomas Bjorn.
Nottingham born warhorse McCreadie (34) is unable, these days, to train, or stay the pace in a full game, because of back and knee problems.
I see Arsenal struggling to stay the pace and even at 10-1 they are no kind of price, while United lack the necessary muscle up front to deliver.
This is a superb season for Martin O'Neill and there is no reason why they can't stay the pace and finish in the top four.
After our 0-0 draw against Millwall on Saturday, I was speaking to Kenny Jackett and he made the point that while Leeds and Leicester can stay the pace, you can't rule out either MK Dons or Peterborough.
Leeds, Forest and the other big teams are making their move but I honestly believe we've got enough to stay the pace.